Apparatus for handling and transporting tobacco leaves



Feb. 13, 1962 J. J. L. DE KOCK ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed March 3, 1958 United States Patent Oflice 3,021,020 Patented Feb. 13, 1962 3,021,020 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORT- lNG TOBACCO LEAVES Johannes Jacobus Lodewickus de Kock, Oukar Farm, Inyazura, Southern Rhodesia, and Johannes Mathys (1e Kock, Inyazura, Southern Rhodesia (42 Saambou Bldg, Andries St., Pretoria, Transvaal, Union of South Africa) Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,791 Claims priority, application Union of South Africa Jan. 15, 1958 2 Claims. (Cl. 214-55) The object of the invention is an improved apparatus for handling of tobacco leaves during reaping operations. The purpose of the new apparatus is to tie and to transport reaped tobacco leaves in the field more efilciently and economically than it was possible in known devices. Besides, the new apparatus is extremely simple and inexpensive, the time and labour involved in the abovementioned operations being substantially reduced.

In known constructions the tobacco leaves when reaped or plucked are either placed on a platform or tied to a stick which is held in 'a frame heavily carried by the worker or transported out of the field for further handling. According to the invention, the apparatus consists of a bar which is provided with means for holding the stick to which the leaves are tied and which bar is supported by one, two or more wheels, skids or the like; the bar is so formed that its upper part can be placed over the shoulders of the worker for further support. Thus the apparatus can be readily and without effort moved between adjacent rows of tobacco plants and the leaves can be readily tied to the stick commonly known as a tobacco reaping stick, which is removed from the apparatus and brought into the barn as soon as the required number of leaves have been tied to the same.

An example of the invention is shown diagrammatically in the drawing.

FIGURE 1 shows the apparatus in side elevation, and

FIGURE 2 in front view.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the apparatus consists essentially of a bar 1, the lower end of which is provided with arms 2 which serve as bearings for a Wheel 3. The upper end 4 of bar 1 is so formed that it can be placed over the shoulder of the worker as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2. For this purpose the bar is preferably made up by two tubes which at their parallel sections are welded together. To the upper part 4 is welded a bent part 5 of essentially inverted U form for holding string bobbins 6, 7. For this purpose two bolts or the 5 like 8, 9, are secured to part 5 and the bobbins are held in position by means of nuts, washers, or the like 10. Furthermore, metal strips 12, 13, are welded to the part 5 which are provided with guiding eyelets for the strings. An additional strip 14 is provided to guide a stick 15 in position. The lower end of stick 15 is held in a cup 16 welded to bar 1 by means of an arm 17. It is essential that the stick should stand in perpendicular or such position that its lower end is farther from the bearers body than its upper end.

The above described apparatus is used in the follow ing manner: The end of a string 18 coming from bobbin 6 and the end of string 19 coming from bobbin 7 are tied at 11 to the stick. The reaper reaps the leaves and hands the same to the worker who moves the apparatus. The worker thereupon ties the leaves in any appropriate manner. As soon as the stick is full it is removed and brought together with the leaves to the tobacco barn.

What I claim is:

1. Portable apparatus for handling tobacco leaves comprising an elongated frame, forked shoulder-engaging hooks secured to one end of the frame and bent transversely to the axis of the frame, a substantially U-shaped bracket connecting the hooks and extending from the hooks in a direction opposite to that of the frame, bobbin support means mounted on the U-shaped bracket for a pair of bobbins, thread guides on the U-shaped bracket, and a second bracket at the other end of the frame extending transversely to the frame in a direction opposite to the shoulder-engaging hooks for string to be tied to the second bracket.

2. Portable apparatus for handling tobacco leaves comprising an elongated frame, forked shoulder-engaging hooks secured to one end of the frame and bent transversely to the axis of the frame, a substantially U-shaped bracket connecting the hooks and extending from the hooks in a direction opposite to that of the frame, cleft means on the U-shaped bracket, bobbin support means on the U-shaped bracket, thread guides on the U-shaped bracket, a second bracket at the other end of the frame extending transversely to the frame in a direction opposite to the shoulder-engaging hooks, a cup on the second bracket facing the cleft means, and a fork at the other end of the frame supporting a land wheel for rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

